India, US, Japan, Australia Deepen Quad Economic Partnership
India, the United States, Japan and Australia are moving to deepen their economic and technological partnership under the Quad framework, with new commitments on critical minerals, artificial intelligence, maritime security and digital networks.
The announcements came after a Quad foreign ministers' meeting held in Atlanta on October 31. Attending the talks were Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi.
A joint statement released after the meeting said economic security is vital for global stability and prosperity. The four nations voiced concern about economic pressure, arbitrary export controls and policies that distort markets, all of which can disrupt global supply chains.
The group reiterated its commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific and called for trusted supply chains and robust infrastructure. It cautioned that excess production in critical industries, non-market practices and unpredictable export bans could affect worldwide trade.
Critical minerals are a major focus. Through the Quad Critical Minerals Initiative, the partners will work to recover essential minerals from electronic waste and scrap, expand processing plants and refineries, and build alternative supply chains. Washington has pledged 10 million dollars for facilities and infrastructure in India and ASEAN countries that extract critical minerals from waste.
The initiative seeks to reduce reliance on any single supplier. As electric vehicles, batteries, semiconductors, electronics and defence sectors require more of these materials, the cooperation is considered essential for economic security.
In artificial intelligence, the Quad has announced a significant initiative. The four countries intend to provide over 85 million dollars in technical and financial assistance to expand access to dependable AI technology in the Indo-Pacific, working through the Quad SI Accelerator. The statement defines SI, or super intelligence, as artificial intelligence in the context of India, Australia and Japan.
Maritime security was discussed as a driver of economic growth. The ministers underlined the importance of freedom of navigation and the secure passage of commercial vessels through the Strait of Hormuz, the Red Sea and the Bab-el-Mandeb Strait. They also called for unhindered movement on sea routes in accordance with the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea and opposed charging tolls on ships.
India's maritime contribution was highlighted through the second Quad maritime observer deployment. Running from September 25 to October 7 from Chennai to Perth, the mission was conducted aboard an Indian Coast Guard offshore patrol vessel with representatives from all four nations. Its purpose was to enhance joint monitoring of maritime activity and coordinated responses to illegal activities.
The partners plan to conduct their first joint activity under the Indo-Pacific Maritime Surveillance Cooperation Initiative during the 2027 Sea Dragon exercise. They also intend to hold the first Quad symposium on maritime domain awareness in early 2027, aimed at sharing maritime information, technology and surveillance capacity with regional countries.
On digital infrastructure, the countries agreed to develop secure and high-speed undersea data cable networks. A new initiative will identify potential vulnerabilities in semiconductor and AI hardware supply chains. Cooperation on 5G, 6G and Open Radio Access Network technologies is also expected to grow.
The Quad will also launch the Quad Business Leaders Forum for the first time, bringing together business representatives, government officials and policy experts from the four countries to encourage public-private collaboration and commercial agreements in key sectors.
Cybercrime and online fraud were another concern. According to the joint statement, organised criminal networks traffic people and coerce them into online scams, stealing the earnings of individuals worldwide. The Quad committed to ending these networks and holding their leaders accountable.
India's leadership in disaster management was also recognised. The Quad expressed condolences over deaths caused by the sudden floods in Nepal on August 26 and praised India's central role in rescue operations, noting that India was the first to provide assistance to Nepal. Observers from the United States, Japan and Australia will participate in AJHE-26, the annual Joint Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief Exercise, which will be held in India in November.
For energy security, the first Quad Fuel Security Forum was held in September to discuss strengthening strategic petroleum reserves and safe fuel stockpiles. The four nations are also cooperating on the modernisation of the Fijian ports of Suva, Lautoka and Rokobili.
This was the third meeting of Quad foreign ministers this year, following gatherings in May and July. The countries agreed to continue preparations for the next Quad Leaders' Summit and the next foreign ministers' meeting.
The Quad's agenda now goes beyond maritime security and strategic cooperation. Through shared initiatives in critical minerals, energy, AI, semiconductors, digital networks and trade, the four countries are strengthening their economic and technological ties across the Indo-Pacific.